IS THE BELL TOLLING FOR THE ICI?

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 002633 AIDAC SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/30/2019 TAGS: EAID EFIN ETRD PGOV PREL IZ SUBJECT: IS THE BELL TOLLING FOR THE ICI? Classified By: Charg d'Affaires Ambassador Patricia Haslach for reasons 1.4(b) and (d) ¶1. (C) In separate meetings with Charg Haslach on September 26 and major donor countries on September 28, UNAMI SRSG Ad Melkert confirmed that he would deliver the following points to the Prime Minister's office regarding the International Compact with Iraq (ICI): - The ICI has largely outlived its usefulness. It is now time to consider transitioning to a new mechanism to coordinate donor efforts with the GOI. - Any meeting in November should be at the Ambassadorial level and be staffed from in-country representation. - This meeting should reaffirm the donors' general commitment to Iraq. - The Iraqis should set the agenda for the meeting. - The GOI needs to consolidate its assistance coordination into one mechanism located at the center of government. - The GOI needs to clearly articulate its development priorities, which need to be aligned with Iraq's stated budget priorities. ¶2. (C) UNAMI staff confirmed to Econoff on September 30 that Melkert discussed these points with PM Advisor Sadiq Rikabi, and Melkert will send a follow-up letter to the Prime Minister. Rikabi was reportedly disappointed, saying that if there was no hope for a Ministerial, the GOI would need to consider whether to even hold an Ambassadorial-level, Baghdad Coordination Group (BCG) meeting. ¶3. (C) Comment: The Maliki Administration's time in office is littered with socio-economic development plans and strategies, but few have had any lasting impact. Our focus in the pre- and post-election periods will be on delivering a consistent message (in coordination with UNAMI and the other donors) that the GOI needs to provide a clear direction for Iraq's development priorities. We will urge that this direction: (a) needs to have buy-in across the GOI and the provincial governments; (b) needs to embrace internationally accepted standards, such as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs); and, (c) needs to be synchronized with Iraq's budget priorities. End Comment. HILL